Tidal corrections to gravity measurements

Methods taking into account the effect of tidal forces on gravity measurements are considered. Corrections for the effect of tidal forces can exceed 250 μGal. Only the structure of the Earth and positions of tide-generating celestial bodies are necessary for taking into account earth tides, while cotidal charts are additionally required for the correct incorporation of the effect of ocean tides. The effect can reach a few tens of μGal near shorelines. The modern accuracy of gravity measurements being 1–2 μGal, the ocean tide effect, together with other less significant factors, should be considered for the correct interpretation of gravity data.     

武汉台重力潮汐长期观测结果

采用武汉台超导重力仪(SG C032)14年多的长期连续观测资料,研究了固体地球对二阶和三阶引潮力的响应特征,精密测定了重力潮汐参数,系统研究了最新的固体潮模型和海潮模型在中国大陆的有效性.采用最新的8个全球海潮模型计算了海潮负荷效应,从武汉台SG C032的观测中成功分离出63个2阶潮汐波群和15个3阶潮汐波群信号,3阶潮波涵盖了周日、半日和1/3日三个频段.重力潮汐观测的精度非常高,标准偏差达到1.116 nm·s^-2,系统反映了非流体静力平衡、非弹性地球对2阶和3阶引潮力的响应特征.结果表明,现有的武汉国际重力潮汐基准在半日频段非常精确,但在周日频段存在比较明显的偏差,需要进一步精化.对于中国大陆的大地测量观测,固体潮可以采用Dehant等考虑地球内部介质非弹性和非流体静力平衡建立的固体潮理论模型或Xu 等基于全球SG观测建立的重力潮汐全球实验模型作为参考和改正模型,海潮负荷效应应该采用Nao99作为改正模型.     

A discussion of world-wide measurements of tidal gravity with respect to oceanic interactions,lithosphere heterogeneities,Earth's flattening and inertial forces

By the end of 1981 the International Center of Earth Tides (ICET) had collected and evaluated a considerable amount of data from 180 stations, including those of the Trans-World Profile which ensure for the first time a world-wide distribution including the tropical areas and the southern hemisphere. In 1979–80, new oceanic cotidal maps of high quality, established by Schwiderski, became available. These maps fit “on-land” tidal-gravity measurements quite successfully. A new theoretical approach developed by Wahr in 1981 has resulted in a set of theoretical formulae establishing the latitude-dependence of the classical elastic amplitude factors for tidal deformations.We calculate here, for six tidal waves, the correlations between the observed gravity variations and those resulting from a calculation based upon the Schwiderski maps. These correlations are highly significant. After subtraction of these oceanic effects we calculate the latitude-dependences of the experimentally determined amplitude factors, which are found to fit Wahr's theoretical formulae. There remains, however, a serious discrepancy in the constant terms of the various formulae. The effects of heterogeneities in the lithosphere on tidal deformations are also clearly identified.     

Temporal variations in free core nutation period

Based on the nearly diurnal resonance in the tidal gravity observations,the temporal variations in period of the Earth's free core nutation (FCN) are investigated by using the tidal gravity observations of 18-year duration recorded continu-ously with a superconducting gravimeter (SG) at Brussels. The effects of the global oceanic tide loading and local barometric pressure on the SG observations have been removed by using eleven high-precision global digital models of oceanic tides and barometric pressure me...     

中国大陆精密重力潮汐改正模型

利用理论和实验重力固体潮模型,充分考虑全球海潮和中国近海潮汐的负荷效应,建立了中国大陆的精密重力潮汐改正模型.结果表明,采用不同的固体潮模型会对重力潮汐结果产生相对变化幅度小于0.06％的差异;在沿海地区海潮负荷的影响约为整个潮汐的4％,而中部地区约为1％,其中中国近海潮汐模型的影响约占整个海潮负荷的10%,内插或外推潮波的负荷约占海潮负荷的3％.通过比较实测的重力数据表明,本文给出的重力潮汐改正模型的精度远远优于0.5×10^-8 m·s^-2,说明了本文构建的模型的实用性,可为中国大陆高精度重力测量提供有效参考和精密的改正模型.     

A global experimental model for gravity tides of the Earth

The long-term, continuous and high-quality tidal gravity data, recorded with the superconducting gravimeters (SGs) at 19 stations in the Global Geodynamics Project (GGP), were simultaneously used to investigate the global pattern of the tidal gravity variations. The atmospheric effects were removed from the gravity observations by using the simultaneous pressure records at the stations. A total of six global co-tidal models were employed to remove the loading effects of oceanic tides. The resonance parameters of the Earth's free core nutation (FCN), as well as the spheroidal constant components in the gravimetric factors of waves O₁ and M₂, were accurately retrieved. As a result, a global experimental model for gravity tides (GEMGT) was developed, considering the nearly diurnal resonance and the latitude-dependence of the gravimetric amplitude factors. The final results indicate that the mean discrepancy of the four main tidal waves (i.e. O₁, K₁, M₂ and S₂) between the GEMGT and SG observations is less than 0.2% on average. The GEMGT is in good agreement with the theoretical models based on the inelastic non-hydrostatic equilibrium Earth models [Dehant, V., Defraigne, P., Wahr, J., 1999. Tides for a convective Earth. J. Geophys. Res. 104, 1035–1058; Mathews, P.M., 2001. Love numbers and gravimetric factor for diurnal tides. J. Geodetic Soc. Jpn. 46 (4), 231–236] with a mean discrepancy less than 0.15%. However, the GEMGT is in closer accordance with the theoretical model given by Mathews [Mathews, P.M., 2001. Love numbers and gravimetric factor for diurnal tides. J. Geodetic Soc. Jpn. 46 (4), 231–236] for the diurnal tides while it is in closer agreement with one obtained by Dehant et al. [Dehant, V., Defraigne, P., Wahr, J., 1999. Tides for a convective Earth. J. Geophys. Res. 104, 1035–1058] for the semi-diurnal tides.     

Bottom pressure tides along a line in the southeast Atlantic Ocean and comparisons with satellite altimetry

Seafloor pressure records, collected at 11 stations aligned along a single ground track of the Topex/Poseidon and Jason satellites, are analyzed for their tidal content. With very low background noise levels and approximately 27 months of high-quality records, tidal constituents can be estimated with unusually high precision. This includes many high-frequency lines up through the seventh-diurnal band. The station deployment provides a unique opportunity to compare with tides estimated from satellite altimetry, point by point along the satellite track, in a region of moderately high mesoscale variability. That variability can significantly corrupt altimeter-based tide estimates, even with 17 years of data. A method to improve the along-track altimeter estimates by correcting the data for non-tidal variability is found to yield much better agreement with the bottom-pressure data. The technique should prove useful in certain demanding applications, such as altimetric studies of internal tides.     

Seasonal variation of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">M</Emphasis><Subscript>2</Subscript> tide

The seasonal cycle of the main lunar tidal constituent M ₂ is studied globally by an analysis of a high-resolution ocean circulation and tide model (STORMTIDE) simulation, of 19 years of satellite altimeter data, and of multiyear tide-gauge records. The barotropic seasonal tidal variability is dominant in coastal and polar regions with relative changes of the tidal amplitude of 5–10 %. A comparison with the observations shows that the ocean circulation and tide model captures the seasonal pattern of the M ₂ tide reasonably well. There are two main processes leading to the seasonal variability in the barotropic tide: First, seasonal changes in stratification on the continental shelf affect the vertical profile of eddy viscosity and, in turn, the vertical current profile. Second, the frictional effect between sea-ice and the surface ocean layer leads to seasonally varying tidal transport. We estimate from the model simulation that the M ₂ tidal energy dissipation at the sea surface varies seasonally in the Arctic (ocean regions north of 60°N) between 2 and 34 GW, whereas in the Southern Ocean, it varies between 0.5 and 2 GW. The M ₂ internal tide is mainly affected by stratification, and the induced modified phase speed of the internal waves leads to amplitude differences in the surface tide signal of 0.005–0.0150 m. The seasonal signals of the M ₂ surface tide are large compared to the accuracy demands of satellite altimetry and gravity observations and emphasize the importance to consider seasonal tidal variability in the correction processes of satellite data.     

中国东西重力潮汐剖面

为了检验体潮与海潮的理论模型,分析了中国东西重力潮汐剖面（1981年9月-1985年1月）。同时,为研究LaCoste ET-20和ET-21重力仪的格值系统,建立了一条由17台LaCoste G型和2台LaCoste D型重力仪观测的重力垂直基线。在基线上标定的结果表明,ET-21重力仪的格值大了1％。由标定得到的格值计算剖面上各测站的潮汐因子,经海潮改正后,接近Wahr模型值,振幅因子的残差:O₁波小于0.3μGal,M₂波小于0.4μGal。但是上海和拉萨的观测经海潮改正后,相位迟后有很大的改善,振幅因子却更偏离于模型值,其潮汐异常主要是近海的海潮模型不完善,以及在海潮计算中,所采用的地球模型未考虑地壳与上地幔的横向不均匀性所引起。     

Influence of dynamic shear modulus on the amplitude and phase of Earth tides

The effect of the frequency-dependent (dynamic) shear modulus on the amplitude and phase of Earth tides is calculated. It is shown that dynamic shear modulus corrections to the tidal phases are completely negligible. A practically reasonable increase of accuracy of tidal measurements, however, would detect the influence of dynamic shear modulus on the amplitude of gravity tide.     

Determination of the long period tidal waves in the GGP superconducting gravity data

Several results about the long period (LP) tidal waves are obtained by the analysis of series of superconducting gravity data, provided by the Global Geodynamics Project (GGP). The most important result is the determination of a single group called LPMF, composed by all LP tides but representing accurately the parameters of the M_f wave. As the LP tidal generating potential is vanishing at latitudes ±35°15′52″ we cannot determine accurate tidal amplitude factors for the stations located between ±40° and ±30°. However, it is still possible to obtain tidal residual vectors and compare them with oceanic tidal loading computations. For 15 stations the NAO99 oceanic model is giving a coherent picture. For nine stations with M_f amplitude larger than 3 μgal (1 μgal = 10 nm s⁻²) a global analysis is obtained by introducing the loading effect of the ocean directly in the observation equations. The mean amplitude factor obtained for LPMF is larger than expected from the models and there is a significant phase lag, showing the imperfection of the tidal oceanic models for M_f. Other new result is the first separate estimation of the parameters of the LP tides, generated by the tidal potential of third degree, dominated by a Lunar declinational monthly wave, called here 3M_md. Due to their small amplitudes (under 1 μgal) these waves are practically hidden by the noise. Nevertheless, the quality of the data and the flexibility of the VAV analysis method [Venedikov, A.P., Arnoso, J., Vieira, R., 2001. Program VAV/2000 for tidal analysis of unequally spaced data with irregular drift and colored noise. J. Geodetic Soc. Jpn. 47 (1), 281–286; Venedikov, A.P., Arnoso, J., Vieira, R., 2003. VAV: a program for tidal data processing. Comput. Geosci. 29, 487–502.] allow getting significant results, in agreement with the theory of the Earth deformation by the tidal potential of third degree.     

Determination of the Earth＇s free core nutation parameters by using tidal gravity data

The Earth＇s free core nutation （FCN） is a retrograde eigenrnode which is attributed to the interaction between the solid mantle and the liquid core of the rotational elliptical Earth. This mode appears as an eigenmode of nearly diurnal free wobble （NDFW） in a terrestrial reference frame with a period of about one day （XU et al, 2001）. Therefore, the NDFW will lead to an obvious resonance enhancement in the diurnal tidal gravity observations, especially those of the tidal waves with frequencies closed to its eigenfrequency such as P1, K1, ψ1 and Ф1. The FCN resonance parameters can be retrieved accurately by high-precision tidal gravity observations, especially those recorded with the superconducting gravimeters （SG）. The Global Geodynamics Project （GGP） organized by IUGG took it as an important content for determining the FCN resonance parameters by using gravity data. However, the results are affected by many factors such as station location, background noise, the selection of the tide-generating potential tables, ocean tide models, data processing techniques and so on. In our study, the FCN parameters will be retrieved by using the SG observations at Wuhan, and the effects of the choices of various tide-generating potential tables, oceanic models and weight functions on the estimation of the FCN parameters will be discussed in detail,     

Time-domain modeling of global ocean tides generated by the full lunisolar potential

Traditionally, ocean tides have been modeled in frequency domain with a forcing from selected tidal constituents. It is a natural approach; however, it implicitly neglects non-linearities of ocean dynamics. An alternative approach is time-domain modeling with a forcing given by the full lunisolar potential, i.e., all tidal waves are a priori included. This approach has been applied in several ocean tide models; however, some challenging tasks still remain, for example, assimilation of satellite altimetry data. In this paper, we introduce the assimilative scheme applicable in a time-domain model, which is an alternative to existing techniques used in assimilative ocean tide models. We present results from DEBOT, a global barotropic ocean tide model, which has two modes: DEBOT-h, a purely hydrodynamical mode, and DEBOT-a, an assimilative mode. The accuracy of DEBOT in both modes is assessed through a series of tests against tide gauge data which demonstrate that DEBOT is comparable to state-of-the-art global ocean tide models for major tidal constituents. Furthermore, as signals of all tidal frequencies are included in DEBOT, we also discuss modeling of minor tidal constituents and non-linear compound tides. Our modeling approach can be useful for those applications where the frequency domain approach is not suitable.     

Accuracy assessment of ocean tide loading computations for precise geodetic observations

The increasing resolution of ground based gravity measurements (e.g. by superconducting gravimeters) as well as satellite based gravity field studies allows to study very small signals, globally as well as local. On the other hand, this requires the correction of such signals to uncover others. To study the Earth’s deep interior and the on-going dynamic processes requires the correction of disturbing signals, and one of these signals is related to ocean tidal loading. Although new ocean tide models are being derived from current satellite missions, there are still uncertainties.In this paper we present an intercomparison ocean tide models to test their fit to world-wide observations. Therefore, three TOPEX/POSEIDON (T/P) satellite derived models (CSR3.0, FES95.2 and TPXO.2) beside the classical SCHW80 model were selected for an accuracy assessment study. The selected models have been subjected to an intercomparison test, tide gauge validation test and comparison to 59 tidal gravity stations.The intercomparison test shows a good agreement between the T/P-based models for the open ocean and remarkable disagreement between the selected models in the coastal regions indicating that such models are still problematic in these regions. The tide gauge validation shows that the T/P derived models fit tide gauges better than SCHW80, with a better fit for the semidiurnal constituents than for the diurnal constituents. Comparing the gravimetric ocean-tide loading computed from the selected models with the residuals from a set of 59 tidal gravity stations shows that there is an improvement of the T/P derived models with respect to the Schwiderski model, especially in M2. However, this improvement is not as significant as the result of the comparison with the pelagic data. The procedure developed for the comparison of T/P derived models with SCHW80 is presented. The results provide not only information and improvement with regard to SCHW80, but also information about the properties of the new models. It is intended to continue this work applying the very recent models to see how they perform compared to this study.With this study we provide boundary conditions for the improvement of new ocean-tide models in order to benefit from the gravity measurements now possible regarding the evaluation of Earth structures and dynamic processes.     

Tide model comparison over the Southwestern Atlantic Shelf

Sea surface height (SSH) as measured by satellites has become a powerful tool for oceanographic and climate related studies. Whereas in the open ocean good accuracy has been achieved, more energetic dynamics and a number of calibration problems have limited applications over continental shelves and near the coast. Tidal ranges in the Southwestern Atlantic (SWA) continental shelf are among the highest in the world ocean, reaching up to 12 m at specific locations. This fact highlights the relevance of the accuracy of the tidal correction that must be applied to the satellite data to be useful in the region. In this work, amplitudes and phases of tidal constituents are extracted from five global tide models and three regional models and compared to the corresponding harmonics estimated from coastal tide gauges (TGs) and satellite altimetry data. The Root Sum Square (RSS) of the misfit of the common set of the five tidal constituents solved by the models (M₂, N₂, S₂, K₁ and O₁) is higher than 18 cm close to the coast for two of the regional models and higher than 24.5 cm for the rest of the models considered. Both values are too high to provide an accurate estimation of geostrophic non-tidal currents from satellite altimetry in the coastal region. On the other hand, the global model with the highest spatial resolution has a RSS lower than 4.5 cm over the continental shelf even when the non-linear M₄ overtide is considered. Comparison with in-situ current measurements suggests that this model can be used to de-tide altimetry data to compute large-scale patterns of SSH and associated geostrophic velocities. It is suggested that a local tide model with very high resolution that assimilates in-situ and satellite data should meet the precision needed to estimate geostrophic velocities at a higher resolution both close to the coast and over the Patagonian shelf.     

Regional ocean tide loading modelling around the Iberian Peninsula

We developed a new 1/12° resolution oceanic tide model in the complex region that surrounds the Iberian Peninsula. The model, named IBER01, allows us to obtain more accurate tidal loading computations for precise geodetic and gravimetric observations in this area. The modelling follows the scheme of data assimilation (coastal tide gauge, bottom pressure sensors and TOPEX/Poseidon altimetry) into a hydrodynamical model, which is based on two-dimensional barotropic depth averaged shallow-water equations. Detailed bathymetry data and quadratic bottom friction with a specific drag coefficient for the region have been considered. Improved ocean load maps for the Iberian Peninsula are obtained for eight harmonic constituents (Q1, P1, O1, K1, N2, M2, S2 and K2), after computing the load effect (Newtonian attraction and elastic contribution) using IBER01 and six present-day global oceanic tide models for comparison. The results achieved verify the quality of the new model. Our ocean loading computations reduce considerably the discrepancies between the theoretical Earth tide parameters and those from observations at the level of 0.3%.     

Study of the Earth’s free core nutation by tidal gravity data recorded with international superconducting gravimeters

By stacking high-precision tidal gravity observations obtained with superconducting gravimeters at six stations in China, Japan, Belgium, France, Germany and Finland, the local systematical discrepancies in the parameter fitting, caused by atmospheric, oceanic tidal loading and the other local environmental perturbations, are eliminated effectively. As a result, the resonance parameters of the Earth’s free core nutation are accurately determined. In this study, the eigenperiod of free core nutation is given as 429.0 sidereal days, which is in agreement with those published in the previous studies. It is about 30 sidereal days less than those calculated in theoretical models (about 460 sidereal days), which confirms the real ellipticity of the fluid core of the Earth to be about 5% larger than the one expected in assumption of hydrostatic equilibrium. The quality factor (Q value) of free core nutation is given as about 9543, which, compared with those determined before based on the body tide observations, is much larger, but more close to those obtained using the VLBI observations. The complex resonance strength is also determined as (−6.10×10⁻⁴, −0.01 ×10⁻⁴)°/h, which can principally describe the deformation characteristics of an anelastic mantle.     

Mapping nonlinear shallow-water tides: a look at the past and future

Overtides and compound tides are generated by nonlinear mechanisms operative primarily in shallow waters. Their presence complicates tidal analysis owing to the multitude of new constituents and their possible frequency overlap with astronomical tides. The science of nonlinear tides was greatly advanced by the pioneering researches of Christian Le Provost who employed analytical theory, physical modeling, and numerical modeling in many extensive studies, especially of the tides of the English Channel. Le Provost’s complementary work with satellite altimetry motivates our attempts to merge these two interests. After a brief review, we describe initial steps toward the assimilation of altimetry into models of nonlinear tides via generalized inverse methods. A series of barotropic inverse solutions is computed for the M tide over the northwest European Shelf. Future applications of altimetry to regions with fewer in situ measurements will require improved understanding of error covariance models because these control the tradeoffs between fitting hydrodynamics and data, a delicate issue in coastal regions. While M can now be robustly determined along the Topex/Poseidon satellite ground tracks, many other compound tides face serious aliasing problems. In memory of Christian Le Provost     

Accuracy assessment of ocean tide loading computations for precise geodetic observations

The increasing resolution of ground based gravity measurements (e.g. by superconducting gravimeters) as well as satellite based gravity field studies allows to study very small signals, globally as well as local. On the other hand, this requires the correction of such signals to uncover others. To study the Earth’s deep interior and the on-going dynamic processes requires the correction of disturbing signals, and one of these signals is related to ocean tidal loading. Although new ocean tide models are being derived from current satellite missions, there are still uncertainties.In this paper we present an intercomparison ocean tide models to test their fit to world-wide observations. Therefore, three TOPEX/POSEIDON (T/P) satellite derived models (CSR3.0, FES95.2 and TPXO.2) beside the classical SCHW80 model were selected for an accuracy assessment study. The selected models have been subjected to an intercomparison test, tide gauge validation test and comparison to 59 tidal gravity stations.The intercomparison test shows a good agreement between the T/P-based models for the open ocean and remarkable disagreement between the selected models in the coastal regions indicating that such models are still problematic in these regions. The tide gauge validation shows that the T/P derived models fit tide gauges better than SCHW80, with a better fit for the semidiurnal constituents than for the diurnal constituents. Comparing the gravimetric ocean-tide loading computed from the selected models with the residuals from a set of 59 tidal gravity stations shows that there is an improvement of the T/P derived models with respect to the Schwiderski model, especially in M2. However, this improvement is not as significant as the result of the comparison with the pelagic data. The procedure developed for the comparison of T/P derived models with SCHW80 is presented. The results provide not only information and improvement with regard to SCHW80, but also information about the properties of the new models. It is intended to continue this work applying the very recent models to see how they perform compared to this study.With this study we provide boundary conditions for the improvement of new ocean-tide models in order to benefit from the gravity measurements now possible regarding the evaluation of Earth structures and dynamic processes.     

联合多代卫星测高和多源重力数据的局部大地水准面精化方法

本文研究了基于泊松小波径向基函数融合多代卫星测高及多源重力数据精化大地水准面模型的方法.分别以沿轨垂线偏差和大地水准面高高差作为卫星测高观测量,研究了使用不同类型测高数据对于大地水准面建模精度的影响.针对全球潮汐模型在浅水区域及部分开阔海域精度较低的问题,引入局部潮汐模型研究了不同潮汐模型对于大地水准面的影响.数值分析表明:相比于使用沿轨垂线偏差作为测高观测量,基于沿轨大地水准面高高差解算得到的大地水准面模型的精度更高,特别是在海域区域,其精度提高了2.3cm.由于使用沿轨大地水准面高高差作为测高观测量削弱了潮汐模型长波误差的影响,采用不同潮汐模型对大地水准面解算的影响较小.总体而言,船载重力及测高观测数据在海洋重力场的确定中呈现互补性关系,联合两类重力场观测量可以提高局部重力场的建模精度.